[IndyBound]

Last fall I warned the IOW community that they would be greeted with photo radar when they made the annual trip to Phoenix for Western Worlds. During the past six months our news has been filled with controversy over these cameras. Valley citizens have placed post it notes in front of the lenses of the camera and one gentleman took a picaxe to a camera to prevent them from catching speeders. Two events this past weekend again made the news:

1st) Carl Edwards learned the hard way it's easier to race in Arizona than it is to drive in Arizona. He was on the way to the track last Thursday when he was nabbed by photo radar. Carl can be expecting a ticket in the mail.

2nd) On Sunday night the voilence surrounding these cameras reached a new level with the senseless murder of a worker manning a mobile photo radar van. The innocent man killed on Sunday night was 51 years old, he had taken this job four months ago for an added source of income during these tough economic times. The suspect a 68 year old valley resident first pulled up behind the van then drove along side of it and fired five shoots into it. Luckily the police apprehended this man on Monday, of course he now claims he didn't want anyone to get hurt. This was a senseless cold blooded murder.

Whether the photo radar cameras will still be in place this fall when USAC runs at PIR is anyones guess at this time. There was all ready a bill before the state legislator to have the cameras removed before Sunday's senseless murder. Many people feel these cameras were implemented in the first place as a way for the state to make money and not as a safety messure to save lives on our valley highways, which has lead to many of the vigilante actions taken by valley residents.

Once again we are reminded how precocious life is.

Patti

[Racerrob]

As the victim of TWO $181.00 tickets this past February, I am glad there is a rebellion but not at the expense of a life. I had a look of anger and shock on my face in one of the wonderful photos I received. It seems that the locals know exactly where the fixed place cameras are and run their normal 80 to 85 mph until they get to the speed zone, then slam on their brakes to get down to the speed limit causing non locals like me to make radical maneuvers to avoid rear ending someone.

So if these devices are designed to catch a lot of out of towners and provide an extra visitor's tax mission accomplished! I hope the legislature takes action to rid the highway of the fixed place cameras since they are NOT effective in slowing dwn the speeders except in localized areas.

Rob Hoffman

[IndyBound]

Originally Posted by Racerrob As the victim of TWO $181.00 tickets this past February, I am glad there is a rebellion but not at the expense of a life. I had a look of anger and shock on my face in one of the wonderful photos I received. It seems that the locals know exactly where the fixed place cameras are and run their normal 80 to 85 mph until they get to the speed zone, then slam on their brakes to get down to the speed limit causing non locals like me to make radical maneuvers to avoid rear ending someone. So if these devices are designed to catch a lot of out of towners and provide an extra visitor's tax mission accomplished! I hope the legislature takes action to rid the highway of the fixed place cameras since they are NOT effective in slowing dwn the speeders except in localized areas. Rob Hoffman

Rob, sorry to hear your were a victim of the radar cameras. I don't feel these cameras were designed specifically to catch out of towners. However, I do believe they were implemented as a source of revenue for the state more than they were for a safety factor. The signs that warn you that you are about to pass a radar camera only give you about 300 feet advance notice, which translates to if you are speeding you are caught.

Rebeling against the cameras through the legislature is one thing, acting like a vigilante or comitting cold blooded murder is another. I personally feel the cameras should be removed and will keep everyone on the IOW board
informed before the Nov. PIR race.


Patti

Why not just follow the law and stay under the speed limit? I guess I don't see what the issue is with that?

[REH24]

Simple solution to getting rid of cameras is like Dirtywhiteboy said "Obey the law." If no revenue is coming in from the use of the camera then the state will get rid of them. Like Patti said it is just an easy source of revenue for the state, county, or city using them.

REH

[SUPERDUKE]

TURN THE YELLOW ON!:doh:

I drive the speed limits 99% of the time, at what point are these radars giving tickets? 1 MPH over or is it 5 or 10 MPH over or higher? That's the real question. Arizona is a hot point in this country, lot of 2nd Amendment folks (nothing wrong with that) that seem to be fighting back against the state. You have the minute men fighting illegals and Arizona is using the border patrol on highways no where near the border to stop people in a claim that they are fighting illegals & drugs. They question people about where they are coming from and if you don't answer their questions they claim the drug dog had a hit on your car and make you pull over to be searched which is a 4th amendment violation. There's a popular video on youtube about a preacher who refused everything and ended getting tased and beaten and nothing was found in his car. Somehow me thinks Arizona is a testing ground for the future.